| DEP Proposes New Pollution Limits
to Improve Water Quality
in the Wanaque Reservoir and Over 400 River Miles Across the State
(05/101) TRENTON -- Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today proposed
new pollution limits, targeting phosphorus that causes water quality
impairment of 200 river miles within the Passaic River Basin and
the Wanaque Reservoir, as well as an additional 200 river miles
in 20 waterways across the state.
"Improving the water quality of our most significant and
largest drinking sources is fundamental to protecting the health
of New Jersey's residents," said Acting Governor Richard
J. Codey. "Safeguarding our water resources also is key to
supporting New Jersey's growing communities and economy."
"DEP is once again building on its clean water commitment
and record," said Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell. "For
critical drinking water sources like the Wanaque and others, we
will continue to work at an accelerated pace to make up for past
delays in setting tougher pollution limits."
For the Passaic River Basin, DEP has proposed total maximum daily
loads (TMDLs) - or pollution limits - to address phosphorus contamination
entering the Wanaque Reservoir and over 200 river miles. Affected
rivers within the Passaic River Basin include Pompton River, Ramapo
River, Pequannock River, Wanaque River, Upper & Middle Passaic
River, Whippany River, and Rockaway River.
The proposal specifically calls for a reduction of phosphorus
- from 57,574 pounds to 17,496 pounds per year - going into the
Wanaque Reservoir, which lies within the Passaic River Basin.
The TMDL proposal requires 42 wastewater treatment plants within
the Passaic River Basin to reduce phosphorus discharges by 83
percent, and establishes an 80 percent phosphorus reduction target
for nonpoint source pollution. One measure to address nonpoint
source pollution is a requirement for all municipalities impacting
the Wanaque Reservoir to adopt a low phosphorus fertilizer ordinance.
DEP also proposed TMDLs for 20 additional waterways encompassing
200 river miles across 10 watershed areas. These 20 TMDLs call
for phosphorus reductions ranging from 21 to 92 percent (see below
Phase I WLAs Table).
In developing these TMDLs, DEP identifies the maximum amount
of phosphorus that a water body can contain and still meet New
Jersey's water quality standards.
DEP then allocates the targeted reduction amongst existing pollution
sources to restore the waterways to the state's "clean water"
standard.
The federal Clean Water Act (CWA) established section 303(d)
that requires states to prepare and submit a report that identifies
waters that do not meet water quality standards. The waterbodies
on the 303(d) list have impaired water quality and the state is
required to develop a TMDL for each pollutant in these waterbodies
by priority.
DEP published the 21 proposed TMDLs for phosphorus (listed below)
in the July 5 New Jersey Register (NJR). DEP will hold hearings
beginning on August 4 to accept public comments, please visit
the web site for date and location for each TMDL.
See letter to dischargers [PDF
35 Kb] and phase I waste load
allocation (WLA) table [PDF 85 Kb]
(includes reduction amounts)
For more information about New Jersey's watersheds visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/watershedmgt
New Jersey's Proposed TMDLs in July 5 New Jersey Register
Waterbody TMDL Type City/County
- Barrett Run Phosphorus Bridgeton
- Blacks Creek Phosphorus Chesterfield-Georgetown Road
- Black Creek Phosphorus Route 94/517 in Vernon
- Black Creek Phosphorus Black Creek near Vernon
- Black Creek Phosphorus Sand Hill Road in Vernon
- Big Timber Creek Phosphorus Blackwood Terrace
- Cohansey River Phosphorus Seeley
- Coles Brook Phosphorus Hackensack
- Lockatong Creek Phosphorus Rosemont-Raven Rock Road Bridge
- . Metedeconk River Phosphorus Jackson Mills road in Freehold
- Musquapsink Brook Phosphorus River Vale
- Oldmans Creek Phosphorus Porches Mill
- Pascack Brook Phosphorus Westwood
- Pompton Lake Phosphorus Passaic County
- Ramapo River Phosphorus (near) Mahwah
- Shark River Phosphorus (near) Neptune
- Shark River Brook Phosphorus Shark River Station in Tinton
Falls
- Wanaque Reservoir Phosphorus Passaic County
- Wickecheoke Creek Phosphorus (near) Sergentsville
- Wickecheoke Creek Phosphorus Stockton
- Waywayanda/ Phosphorus Route 515 in Maple Grange Pochuck
River
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